The Archaeology Show

Dig into the world of archaeology with hosts Chris Webster and Rachel Roden. This show brings you the latest news, insights, and stories from the field and beyond. Whether you're a pro or just curious, there's something here for you. Enjoy the ride.

Early Hominin Structures, Pompeii Discoveries, and the Band of Holes in Peru - Ep 328
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Early Hominin Structures, Pompeii Discoveries, and the Band of Holes in Peru - Ep 328

In this week’s episode, we cover three archaeology news stories. First up, a Nature-backed report on unusually old woodworking from Kalambo Falls, where waterlogged conditions preserved a wedge, digging stick, and notched logs dated by luminescence to about 476,000 years ago, suggesting advanced planning and challenging simple “Stone Age” assumptions. We then discuss a Pompeii discovery of two skeletons outside the city walls near Porta Stabia, including a man apparently shielding his head with a terracotta bowl and carrying an oil lamp, and we debate the benefits and risks of an AI-generated scene reconstruction. Finally, we examine Peru’s Monte Sierpe “Band of Holes,” over 5,200 aligned pits mapped by drones and analyzed via microbotanical remains, with a study proposing early market use and later Inca-style accounting patterns resembling quipu, while we question how and why such a vast system was built and used.

Read More
Unraveling Ancient DNA: Neanderthals, Natural Selection, and Burial Mysteries - Ep 327
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Unraveling Ancient DNA: Neanderthals, Natural Selection, and Burial Mysteries - Ep 327

In our latest episode, we unravel fascinating stories of ancient DNA in the news! Uncover the touching story of Anglo-Saxon siblings buried together over 1400 years ago. Then we look at groundbreaking research revealing how natural selection shaped more genes than we ever imagined. Finally, join our exploration of the mysterious origins of Neanderthals!

Read More

Go behind the headlines, and discover real history and archaeology news.